24-Year-Old Runner Collapses Just Two Miles From NYC Marathon Finish Line — Her Final Messages to Her Father Reveal a Heartbreaking Story

What should have been one of the happiest days of her life ended in an unimaginable tragedy.

The young runner was identified as Rachel Apa, a 24-year-old woman from Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, who had spent months preparing for her first New York City Marathon. She was an accomplished athlete, a former Division I field hockey player at Bucknell University, and someone who loved challenging herself physically.

Rachel wasn’t running simply to complete a race. She was participating with the Parkinson’s Champions team to honor her beloved grandfather, who had died from Parkinson’s disease in 2022. She hoped her efforts would help raise money and awareness for the disease.

Throughout the marathon, Rachel remained in contact with her father, Steve Apa, who was following her progress through a race-tracking application from Pennsylvania. Their messages initially reflected excitement and encouragement. At one point, Rachel told him she felt amazing and had never felt so good.

Her mother, Michelle, was also in New York, cheering her on alongside friends. Around mile 14, she recorded a video of Rachel smiling and waving as she ran past.

But as the miles passed, the messages began to change.

Around mile 18, Rachel sent her father a short message: “Ow.” A little later, she sent another: “Ow, ow.” Steve encouraged her to take it easy and reminded her that completing her first marathon was more important than finishing quickly.

At mile 23, he sent another encouraging message: “All finish, not speed.”

He had no idea those would become some of their final exchanges.

Around 1:30 p.m., as Rachel approached mile 24 in Central Park, her father noticed something frightening. Her location on the tracking application had stopped moving. His messages were no longer receiving replies.

At approximately the same time, Rachel suddenly collapsed.

A spectator named Michaela Nicholas, a hospital social worker, rushed to help. Two other people who identified themselves as doctors also began performing CPR while emergency medical personnel hurried to the scene. Race medical staff used a defibrillator in an attempt to revive her before paramedics transported her to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition.

Rachel’s mother rushed toward the location after realizing something was wrong. Unfortunately, when she arrived, an ambulance had already taken her daughter away. An emergency medical worker helped transport Michelle to the hospital so she could be with her family.

Doctors continued trying to save Rachel for hours, but the devastating news eventually came. She died at approximately 9:40 that evening.

Her father later told news organizations that doctors had identified rhabdomyolysis, a potentially life-threatening condition involving the breakdown of muscle tissue, as the suspected explanation for her death. The medical examiner’s investigation was still underway.

Steve described the loss as unfathomable, saying his daughter had been in excellent health and physical condition.

Rachel had graduated from Bucknell University in 2024, where she played field hockey and scored 17 goals during her college career. She worked as a product manager and had recently begun pursuing an MBA.

Following news of her death, tributes poured in from her university, former teammates, colleagues, and the wider running community. Her fundraising page for the Parkinson’s Foundation also received an extraordinary wave of donations, quickly surpassing its original $4,000 goal.

The organization hosting the marathon expressed its condolences to Rachel’s loved ones, while those who knew her remembered her athletic achievements, determination, and generous spirit.

The 2026 New York City Marathon was celebrating its 50th year in its five-borough format, with a record number of participants completing the course. Yet for Rachel’s family, the day will forever be remembered for a loss no one could have imagined.

She had trained for months, crossed thousands of steps, and come within just two miles of her dream.

Her final messages to her father are now a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly an ordinary day can change.

Rachel was running to honor someone she loved. Today, her family, friends, and countless strangers are honoring her memory.